“Of course,” Hamar replied, “and I’ve a pretty shrewd idea of the terms of it.  But enough of this—­let me come to the point.  I intend buying the property, and I shall refuse to renew your father’s lease, unless he agrees to give me what I want!”

“Of course a preposterous price?”

“No, you—­only you!”

“Me!”

“Yes!  I’ve never seen a girl I like more.  I’ve limitless wealth and I’ll give you everything you want—­a steam yacht, motors, diamonds, anything, everything, and all I ask in return is that you should consent to be engaged to me on trial—­say for fifteen months—­just to see how we get on!  What pretty hands you have.”

And before Gladys could draw them away, he had caught hold of them in an iron grasp, and, turning them over, cast admiring glances at the slim, white fingers with the long, almond-shaped and carefully manicured nails.

“I reckon,” he said, “I shall never find any one prettier all through.  What do you say?”

“Your proposition is impossible—­monstrous!  I detest you,” Gladys retorted, her cheeks white with anger.  “Leave go my hands at once, and never let me see you again!”

“I can’t promise not to see you again,” Hamar said, “but I’ll let go your hands now, for I’m no more a lover of scenes than you.  I anticipated a little fuss at first—­it’s the way all you women have—­you are so modest, you don’t like to appear too eager to snap up a good offer.  You’ll close with it right enough in the end.  I’ll call again in a few days.  By that time you may have changed your mind.”  And, before she could prevent him, he had again seized her hand and was kissing it over and over again.

With an ejaculation of the utmost indignation, she sprang away from him, and with all the dignity she could assume, walked to the house.  What became of him she did not know.  Some few seconds later she told the gardener to see him safely off the premises, but he was nowhere to be found.

A week later, Hamar turned up again at the Cottage, and, despite the vigilance of Gladys and the servants, caught John Martin alone.

When the latter, at last, came to the end of what had, at first, seemed an inexhaustible stock of invectives, Hamar stated his proposals with mathematical exactitude.

“I don’t believe for one moment my landlord would be such a blackguard as to play into your hands,” John Martin spluttered.

“Oh, yes, he would!” Hamar replied.  “An Englishman will do anything for money, and I am prepared to offer him just twice as much as any one else for your Hall.  Do you think he will refuse—­not he!”

“But what on earth’s your object!  You’ve ruined me already.”

“Your daughter!” Hamar cried.  “Miss Gladys!  I am prepared to go any lengths to get her.  Refuse to give her to me and I’ll turn you out of your Hall, I’ll torment you with every kind of insect, I’ll plague you with disease, I’ll make your life hell.  But give her to me—­and I’ll—­”